sportforward

Privacy Policy

Sports Forward Mobile Application

Effective Date:

Last Updated: September 2026

Sport Forward Private Limited (“Company”, “we”, “us”, “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal data we collect through the Sports Forward mobile application (the “App”), why we collect it, how we use, share, and protect it, and the choices and rights available to you — including region-specific rights for users in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union/EEA, India, Canada, and Australia. This Policy should be read together with our Terms of Use.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Data: name, username, email address, date of birth/age, password (encrypted), and sports/team/player preferences.

1.2 Content Data: messages sent via Direct Messaging and Group Chat, group names/descriptions, Private Group security codes (stored in hashed/encrypted form), and pinned matches/players.

1.3 Location Data:

  • Approximate/Proximity Data: used to calculate proximity between opted-in Users aged 17+ for Nearby User Discovery.
  • Precise Device Location (GPS / Wi-Fi / cell-tower): collected only with your explicit, separate opt-in and only from Users 17 or older (see Section 4).
  • We never collect location data while the App is fully closed (Section 4.2).

1.4 Nearby-Discovery Tag Data. When you opt in to Nearby User Discovery, the following — and only the following — is made visible to nearby Users: your username, your selected team, your selected sport, and (optionally, at your election) a self-chosen country or city tag. We do not surface your exact coordinates or distance to other Users.

1.5 Device and Usage Data: device type/model, operating system version, app version, advertising/device identifiers, IP address, crash/diagnostic logs, and feature usage (for example, widgets pinned, notification interactions).

1.6 Payment Data: if you purchase premium features, payment-card or wallet details are processed by our third-party payment processor (for example, Stripe or app-store billing); we do not store full card numbers.

1.7 Communications Data: information you provide when contacting customer support.

1.8 Information From Others: information other Users provide about you (for example, adding you to a group or mentioning you), subject to those Users' own obligation to have lawful rights to share it.

2. How We Use Information

  • To create and operate your account and provide the App's features (chat, groups, live scores, notifications, widgets).
  • To calculate and display proximity-based Nearby User Discovery results to opted-in, age-eligible Users.
  • To send Background Chat, Score, Selected Team/Player, and Live Score push notifications you have opted into.
  • To power home-screen widget refreshes (match/player data only — never other Users' locations).
  • To provide customer support, ensure safety and security, detect abuse, prevent fraud, and enforce our Terms.
  • To process payments for premium features.
  • With your consent, for marketing communications, which you may opt out of at any time.
  • To comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests.

3. Age-Tiered Data Protections

3.1 Children Under the General Account Minimum Age (13). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children below the general account minimum age. If we learn we have inadvertently done so, we will delete it promptly. A parent or guardian who believes their child has provided data may contact us (Section 12) for deletion.

3.2 Users 13–16/17. May create a general account (subject to Section 1 of the Terms and any parental consent required in their jurisdiction) but cannot enable location sharing or Nearby User Discovery, regardless of device-level permissions granted; our systems block these features at the account level.

3.3 Users 17/18+. May opt in to Nearby User Discovery and background location for match-day alerts, on the basis described in Sections 4–5 below.

4. Location Data — Collection, Minimisation and Controls

4.1 Foreground-Only by Default. Location is processed only while the App is open and in active use, unless you separately enable background location for real-time match-day vicinity alerts.

4.2 No Collection When App Is Closed. We do not collect, transmit, or retain your location once you fully close the App — location sharing stops immediately.

4.3 Transient Processing. Precise coordinates are used transiently to compute proximity and are not permanently stored as raw coordinates linked to your profile beyond what is needed to provide the feature in real time; we retain only the minimum derived data necessary (for example, an “in range” status) as described in our retention schedule (Section 9).

4.4 What Other Users See. As stated in Section 1.4, other Users only ever see your username, team, sport, and optional self-chosen country/city tag — never your coordinates or precise distance.

4.5 Third-Party Mapping/Proximity Providers. We use third-party spatial/mapping infrastructure (for example, Google Maps Platform or Mapbox) under encryption to calculate proximity; these providers do not receive your identity beyond what is technically necessary and do not sell your location to data brokers.

4.6 Ghost Mode. You can disable location sharing at any time via in-App “Ghost Mode” or your device settings.

4.7 Sensitive Data Classification. We treat precise location as sensitive personal information and apply heightened safeguards (encryption in transit and at rest, access controls, and, where required, a Data Protection Impact Assessment).

5. How We Share Information

  • With other Users: content you post in chats/groups, and, if you opt in, your Nearby-Discovery tag (username / team / sport / optional location tag).
  • With service providers: cloud hosting, push-notification delivery (for example, Apple/Google notification services), sports-data providers (for live scores), mapping/proximity providers, payment processors, analytics and crash-reporting providers, and customer-support tools — each under contractual confidentiality and data-processing obligations.
  • For legal reasons: to comply with law, respond to lawful requests, or protect the rights, safety, or property of Users or the Company.
  • Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, subject to continued protection under this Policy.

We do not sell your personal data. Where “sale” or “sharing” has the broader meaning given under the CCPA/CPRA (for example, certain advertising integrations), you may opt out as described in Section 10.1.

6. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed in the United States, India, the EU/EEA, and other countries where our service providers operate. Where we transfer personal data out of the EEA/UK, we rely on the European Commission's or UK's Standard Contractual Clauses/International Data Transfer Addendum or another lawful transfer mechanism.

7. Legal Bases for Processing (EU/UK GDPR)

  • Contractual necessity: to provide the App and its core account features.
  • Consent: for precise location sharing/Nearby User Discovery, background location, marketing communications, and any processing of a minor's data.
  • Legitimate interests: for security, fraud prevention, and service improvement, balanced against your rights.
  • Legal obligation: for tax, regulatory, and law-enforcement compliance.

You may withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The App and any associated websites use cookies/SDKs for functionality, analytics, and, where you consent, personalised content. You can manage preferences in-App or via your device/browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for details.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Precise location data is retained only transiently as described in Section 4.3. Upon account deletion, we delete or anonymise your personal data except where retention is legally required.

10. Your Rights — By Region

10.1 United States (CCPA/CPRA and other applicable state laws)

  • Right to know/access, delete, correct, and limit use of Sensitive Personal Information (including precise location).
  • Right to opt out of “sale” or “sharing” of personal information (we do not sell data for money but provide an opt-out for any sharing that meets the statutory definition).
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights.
  • COPPA: we do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 without verifiable parental consent.

10.2 United Kingdom / European Union (UK GDPR / EU GDPR)

  • Rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, portability, and to withdraw consent.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with the ICO (UK) or your local supervisory authority (EU).
  • We do not make decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects about you based solely on automated processing.

10.3 India (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023)

  • Right to access a summary of personal data processed and processing activities.
  • Right to correction, completion, updating, and erasure of personal data.
  • Right to grievance redressal through our Grievance Officer, and thereafter to the Data Protection Board of India.
  • Right to nominate another individual to exercise these rights in the event of death or incapacity.
  • For children (under 18), we obtain verifiable parental/guardian consent before processing and do not undertake tracking, behavioural monitoring, or targeted advertising directed at children.

10.4 Canada (PIPEDA and provincial laws)

  • Right to access your personal information and challenge its accuracy, and to receive an accounting of disclosures to third parties, including mapping/proximity providers.

10.5 Australia (Privacy Act / Australian Privacy Principles)

  • Right to access and correct your personal information, and to complain to the OAIC. Cross-border disclosures (for example, to global cloud/service providers) comply with APP 8.

10.6 Hong Kong SAR (Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, Cap. 486)

  • Right to be informed of the purpose of collection and the classes of transferees, and rights of access and correction (requests answered within 40 days).
  • Right to refuse use of your data, including precise location, for any new purpose without your express consent, and to opt out of direct marketing at any time.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD).

10.7 Africa

South Africa (Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013)

  • Rights of access, correction, deletion, and objection and to refuse electronic direct marketing unless you have opted in.
  • Right to be notified of any unauthorised access to your personal information, and to complain to the Information Regulator.

Nigeria (Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023)

  • Rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, portability and to withdraw consent.
  • Right not to be subject to solely automated decisions with significant effects, and to complain to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Kenya (Data Protection Act, 2019)

  • Rights to be informed and of access, correction, deletion, objection and portability.
  • Right not to be subject to solely automated decisions with significant effects and to complain to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).

Egypt (Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020)

  • Rights of access, correction, erasure, and restriction and to withdraw consent at any time.
  • Right to be notified of any breach affecting your data and to complain to the Personal Data Protection Center.

Ghana (Data Protection Act, 2012)

  • Rights of access, correction, and deletion, and to stop processing for direct marketing or processing likely to cause damage or distress.
  • Right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission.

Children and Other African Jurisdictions

  • For Users under 18, we obtain verifiable parent or guardian consent before processing and do not collect precise location data (under 21 in Egypt).
  • Users in other African countries may exercise the rights provided under their local data protection law by contacting us.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Section 12; we may need to verify your identity before responding.

11. Data Security

We use encryption in transit and at rest for sensitive data (payment details, precise location, security codes for Private Groups), access controls limiting internal access on a need-to-know basis, and regular security reviews. No system is completely secure; please use a strong, unique password and enable available security features.

12. Contact Us / Grievance Officer

Sport Forward Private Limited

Address: UNIT NO. 501 A, 5TH FLOOR SALCON, Rasvilas, Saket District Centre, Sector 6, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, Delhi 110017

Email: sportsfriends@sportforward.in

Phone: +91 8796469069

Grievance Officer (India, IT Rules 2021 / DPDP Act): Robin Raj / sportsfriends@sportforward.in

EU Representative (Art. 27 GDPR): [__________Name / Entity / Address / Email]

UK Representative (Art. 27 UK GDPR): [_________Name / Entity / Address / Email]

Data Protection Officer (if appointed): [__________Name / Email]

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy periodically. Material changes will be notified via in-App notice or email, and the “Effective Date” above will be revised. Please review this Policy periodically.